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Yusra Farzan
What I cover
I report on issues affecting students (prospective and current), their families and communities. Some big questions I am pondering on this beat: who are higher education institutions set up to serve? Who determines who has access to these institutions? How is changing technology affecting higher education? Is access to higher education a ticket to a different trajectory in life?
My background
I didn’t think about university up until I graduated high school. Neither of my grandparents nor parents had completed college. We were residents in the UAE and that residency was dependent on my dad holding down his job. A college degree was a nice to have, not a need to have in my family. And it was only thanks to a combination of luck (Sri Lanka’s civil war ended), grit (I balanced 3 freelance jobs and a paid internship) and sheer determination (I dodged countless marriage proposals) that I graduated with a degree.
And it’s these forces that led me to complete my master’s in race and social justice reporting from USC almost a decade later. (Add a 2-year-old to the mix and grieving the sudden death of my mother.)
I previously covered Orange County for LAist.
My goals
I want to find what works and expose what doesn't, and help students and their families find solutions to their problems.
Best way to reach me
Covering Southern California’s universities and community colleges can be a lot, so I need your help in being my eyes and ears on the ground. If you have a tip, you can email me at yfarzan@laist.com or on Signal at username: @yusramf.25
Stories by Yusra Farzan
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At least 10 families also remain displaced due to the explosion.
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A look at how many showed up to vote in the March 5 primary, either in person or by mail, and how it compares to previous elections.
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Here's your guide to navigating the street and sidewalk closures for the 96th Academy Awards on Sunday.
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Nearly 10,000 people have checked out the pass from the Los Angeles County Library system alone.
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Thousands of people have been watching a livestream in anticipation of the big event.
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The Sierra Nevada mountains are poised to take the brunt of what’s shaping up to be a major snowstorm.
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It’s Leap Day, not April Fools’ Day, some fans reminded the Dodger star.
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The northbound connector will close for 57 hours starting Friday.
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Owner Karen Kropp said it has become “harder and harder” to run a mom-and-pop shop.
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The move comes after state officials found landfill operators violated hazardous waste control laws.
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The dream wedding venue for many had to temporarily close because of damage caused by the Rancho Palos Verdes landslide complex.
